How to Clean Tile Grout

Do you have tile grout that once looked clean, fresh and bright?

If your tile now looks dull, dingy and gray, then maybe Ron's tile refreshing tips are just what you need. Tile grout cleaners can't always get your tile back to that new-looking condition. In this workshop segment, Ron shows us how to make our tile look like it did the first day it was put in.

1. Remove old grout

• The first step in grout refreshing is to remove the top surface of the old grout using a tool called a grout saw. There are two different types of grout saws. Ron began his demonstration with one version...

• …and then switched to the other style.

• Both saws worked very well at accomplishing the goal of removing just enough of the old grout to get rid of all of the discoloration.

• Grout saws are very sharp, so it's important that you take your time. If the saw slips it can scratch the top surface of the tile.

• Once Ron had scraped out all of the discolored grout, he suggested removing the loose material with a vacuum.

• Once all of the grout was removed and cleared away, it was time to refill the joints with new, fresh grout. Grout can be purchased in a pre-mixed formula, or it can be purchased in powder form that only requires adding water. Ron added a scoop of grout to the tile surface.

• Next, Ron used a grout float, made of foam rubber, to spread the grout around the surface of the tile to put grout back into the joints where he had removed it.

• While holding the float nearly flat against the surface, Ron pressed down to squeeze the new grout into the joints.

• Once the joints were filled with grout, Ron used the same tool again, but this time he tipped it up at a 45-degree angle and then dragged it across the face of the tile at a diagonal. Ron scraped off the excess grout from the face of the tile, while leaving it in the joints.

• Next, Ron took a clean grout sponge, dipped it in clear water, wrung out the excess, and then gently washed off the remaining grout from the face of the tile.

• After the tile surface dried, there was still a thin film remaining, which Ron easily removed with a dry paper towel.

• Ron's refreshed tile grout looked just as good as new, because, it basically was new!

• Ron allowed the grout to dry for about three days, and then applied a grout sealer, which would help keep the tile looking fresh and clean for many years.